Chapter 133

Chapter 133

After two matches, it was clear to everyone that there was an objective gap in strength between the two countries' representative teams.

If the Empire's team won, it was expected. If the Federation's team ever managed a victory, it would be an extraordinary performance.

Yet, despite the predictable outcomes, the military exercises were still thrilling, maintaining high popularity on the Star Network. The online public tacitly stopped discussing wins and losses, instead looking forward to the impressive maneuvers the military academy students would showcase in upcoming matches.

As the two teams faced off multiple times, certain "star players" inevitably emerged, commanding the highest popularity, attention, and support.

The most famous was certainly the newly crowned Imperial Heir, Baisha Ronin—since the beginning of the exercises, she had been a pivotal figure influencing the course of the matches. Once her true identity was revealed, her fan base rapidly expanded. Not just the strength-admiring Imperials, but even Federation citizens became enamored with her. Over the past couple of weeks, websites and e-publications featured her on their front pages, and reporters scrambled to unearth information about her. Besides her interview footage, recently leaked images from her coronation ceremony... but overall, the most widely circulated was the photo of her with the Blackbird.

Some media, capitalizing on the hype, began digging deep into the history of the Imperial royal family.

"Beauty and Power Comparable to Weapons of Mass Destruction: How the Imperial Royal Family Stands at the Pinnacle of Human Genetic Evolution," Jingyi read out the overly long news headline in a soft voice, "Isn't this a bit exaggerated?"

Jingyi flipped through the page, lined with photos of Ronin family emperors throughout history, momentarily lost for words.

Yanning, idly chewing gum, leaned in for a closer look, his chewing coming to a halt.

"Baisha's ancestors really were 'dazzling stars'," Yanning muttered, "They're all human, so how did they end up looking like this?"

"It's a good thing," Jingyi said calmly, shutting off the screen, "At least we can be sure that Baisha is indeed a born member of the Ronin family."

Jingyi and Yanning had relatives themselves. Although their lives were destined to be without blood relatives by their side, seeing Baisha successfully find her family and receive their love and attention still made them happy.

Not just Baisha, but Jingyi, Yanning, and the two Zhou brothers were also popular on the Star Network. Their excellence was on par with the Imperial students, making them favorites in many circles.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after the joint military exercise, they were all expected to be heavily utilized, promising a bright future ahead.

Yanning, in a cheerful mood, chewed his gum a few more times and casually offered the candy wrapper to a teammate on the other side, "Janice, do you want a piece?"

"No, thank you," Janice replied, sitting up straight, eyes forward, her tone unemotional, "I do not need to consume excess nutrition."

Yanning: "..."

Wincing slightly from toothache, he retracted the gum packet and sent a message to Zhou Ying using his wrist computer: "Didn't they say Janice's system was upgraded? Why do I feel like she's more robotic than before?"

Zhou Ying replied promptly: "Maybe that's the direction of her upgrade. However, my uncle gave me a system manual before we left. If she bugs out again, I should be able to fix it."

"That way of thinking... don't forget she's a person," Yanning typed rapidly, "Even though she's been modified to be hardly recognizable, we should respect her personality."

"Don't make me laugh. You want to talk about personality with my uncle? As far as I know, Janice volunteered for the modifications. She's psychically gifted but inherently flawed; she could only join the battlefield through modifications. This project, ostensibly to address the shortage of soldiers, even passed the military's ethical review. What's the use of emphasizing personality to them now?" Zhou Ying replied quickly, "You're worried about Janice, but you should be more concerned about yourself. If this technology becomes more advanced, who's to say we won't be forced to install various prosthetics?"

Yanning's brows furrowed.

"Fortunately, this technology is still very unstable, making Janice at most a useful weapon. That's why my uncle entrusted her to me, and I need to be cautious in utilizing her—especially now that our competition is on Death Star. We'll be too busy fighting starbugs to clash with Baisha and her team, which is good for us. Land safely on Death Star, kill as many starbugs as possible, and then return safely; that's our mission," Zhou Ying explained.

Hesitating for a moment, Yanning typed, "Your words are unsettling. Do you know something?"

Zhou Ying didn't respond for a long time.

Finally, he sent a few sentences:

"I just have a bad feeling."

"It seems they're not just trying to turn flesh and blood into steel. They've also been tinkering with Janice's brain."

Zhou Ying couldn't quite grasp what they were trying to achieve.

……

After several days of travel, the Imperial and Federation starships officially landed.

To facilitate monitoring the competition and ensure timely rescue, the military cleared a small safe zone on the planet.

The students landed in their respective safe zones and watched the starships depart before the competition officially began.

As soon as they set foot on Death Star, they were captivated by the deep red soil before them. An ominous, faintly fetid scent lingered in the air, even more perceptible to those sensitive to psychic energies.

Cen Yuehuai almost vomited, "What's up with this place?"

"Know how the safe zone works?" Xino drew his long sword, his demeanor seemingly different, "On planets infested with starbugs, when we desperately need a safe zone, we kill enough starbugs, grind them into dust, and mix them into the soil. Starbugs instinctively seek benefit and avoid harm, so for a few days, lower-level starbugs won't come near here."

In such an environment, survival doesn't hinge on one or two high-level starbugs. Strong warriors often perish at the hands of swarms. Therefore, avoiding grouped swarms is of utmost importance.

"No wonder this smell is so overpowering," said Baisha. Her high psychic level made her senses extremely sharp, and she was not fond of this place.

"Both Jiya and I have frontline experience and know how to handle swarms. Your Highness, let us take the lead this time," Xino suggested.

Baisha nodded in agreement.

"I considered this when assigning the formation. The strongest elite squad will lead, with each of you heading a team to protect the flanks. As for the mech pilots, they will move flexibly within the team, guarding resources and weapons," Baisha reiterated the formation, speaking on the general channel, "Everyone, Death Star's environment is complex. We need to cover each other. Do not break formation and prioritize safety."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The enthusiastic response from the team took Baisha by surprise.

Upon closer inspection, the students' expressions seemed different from before. Bright eyes peered through their mechs at Baisha, their voices filled with excitement and admiration.

Before, although Baisha had always held the team's leadership, she had never felt this absolute authority... as if at her command, they would jump into lava or an abyss without hesitation.

In the distance, under the pitch-black night sky, a few lonely cries of starbugs echoed. Unlike ordinary calls, these roared in resonance with the air, reverberating in circles all around.

Baisha took a deep breath: "Move out."

The entire team surged forward like a sharp sword towards the dark shadows in the distance.

The density of starbugs on Death Star was indeed much higher than on the previous planet. Within minutes of leaving the safe zone, they encountered a large swarm. At first glance, there was a colorful array of starbugs of all shapes and sizes. They were like famished beasts, mouths gaping as they lunged towards the team.

As the number of starbugs increased, the situation became chaotic. Many students knew how to target the starbugs' weak points, but often before they could land a hit, several other starbugs would pounce, disrupting their attacks. For a while, they could only focus on self-preservation, significantly reducing their efficiency in hunting starbugs.

However, they quickly found the right approach to combat: cooperation.

Yu Yan and Cen Yuehuai, as key team members, were active at the forefront. Yu Yan swung his heavy sword, slashing through the swarm to force them to expose their teeth or claws for psychic attacks. The moment they struck, Cen Yuehuai seized the opportunity to pinpoint where their psychic energy was concentrated. Flaming arrows shot through the night sky, exploding precisely on the starbugs, turning them into bursts of fireworks.

The sound of weapons tearing through flesh and the starbugs' howls were incessant. The putrid smell of the starbugs filled the air, carried skyward by the disturbed atmosphere.

Cen Yuehuai activated his mech's engine, soaring upwards to gain a better vantage point for targeting. Before releasing his arrow, he noticed a roar from the left flank—distinct and authoritative, unlike the starbugs' twisted and noisy cries. Instinctively turning his head, he saw a golden lion, radiating light, slashing through the swarm, knocking two trembling starbugs away with a single swipe.

"Xino, are you crazy?" Cen Yuehuai shouted, half in disbelief.

Although psychic forms have combat capabilities, exposing them in such chaotic environments is extremely dangerous.

As soon as Xino's psychic form appeared, the surrounding starbugs swarmed towards him in a frenzy.

Xino didn't respond. He wielded his long sword, its chilling blade leaving bright trails as he cut through the swarm with a lethal aura.

Cen Yuehuai held his breath, trying to shoot a few arrows to alleviate the pressure on Xino. But after a few seconds, she couldn't find the right moment to strike.

She could hardly track the trajectory of his long sword.

Xino, piloting his mech, plunged into the swarm with unhesitating steps, each move striking lethally at the starbugs' vital points. He concentrated his psychic energy on his blade, slicing through the air, turning the force of his strikes into blades, cutting the starbugs within a hundred meters in front of him in two.

Xino's decisive actions eased the pressure on the left flank. The students around him instinctively followed his lead, covering his back to prevent him from being surrounded by starbugs.

Cen Yuehuai felt a moment of daze: was this the real Xino Us all along?

She held her breath, focused, and without hesitation, turned back to re-engage in the battle.